What does it really take to develop into a great golfer, not just build a great golf swing?

In this episode of The Golf Sit Down, Ryan Dailey, PGA and Seth Thompson, PGA sit down with PGA Tour winner and longtime coach David Ogrin for a conversation about junior golf development, coaching, parenting, competition, and learning how to actually play the game.

David shares lessons from his own journey, from growing up on a golf course to winning on the PGA Tour and eventually building a career as a coach. He also explains why the best development environments often come down to opportunity, trust, and allowing players to learn through experience.

A major part of the conversation focuses on the role parents play in junior golf. David shares what he has seen work well with developing players, why parents should let coaches coach, and how to find the right instructor for a young golfer.

The discussion also moves beyond mechanics and into the parts of golf that are harder to teach on a range: awareness, decision-making, creativity, scoring, and learning how to compete.

If you’re a junior golfer, parent, coach, or anyone interested in long-term player development, this episode offers a valuable perspective on what helps golfers continue to improve.

Episode Chapters

00:00 David Ogrin’s Journey From Junior Golfer to PGA Tour Winner 04:25 The Role Parents Should Play in Junior Golf 07:31 How to Find the Right Golf Coach 13:00 Helping Players Take Ownership of Their Game 16:56 Developing the Mental Side of Golf 20:08 Lessons From Competing on the PGA Tour 28:00 Why Technology Can’t Replace Playing the Golf Course 33:25 Why Junior Golfers Need to Compete Before They Feel Ready

The Golf Sit Down explores long-term golf development and the people, ideas, and experiences that help golfers reach their goals.